A videotape of British hostage Norman Kember and two other peace activists has been broadcast on Arab satellite television station al-Jazeera. The 74-year-old, from north-west London, was seized in Baghdad with two Canadians and an American in November. The members of peace group Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) were last seen in a video clip broadcast in January. The UK Foreign Office said it was concerned the American Tom Fox did not appear on the tape dated 28 February. "We hope that all four are well and will be released unharmed," a spokeswoman said. The men were kidnapped on 26 November by a previously unknown group calling itself the Swords of Truth Brigade, which has demanded all Iraqi prisoners be freed. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales defended his country's treatment of terror suspects against criticism from Europe and elsewhere, telling a London audience Tuesday that the United States abhors torture and respects the rights of detainees. Gonzales also said the United States did not transport terrorism suspects to nations where it was likely they could be tortured. Human rights groups and other European critics have alleged that U.S. planes may be using European airports and air space to send suspects to nations that may torture them. They have also criticized the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo, and a U.N. report last month called for the facility to be closed "without further delay" because it is effectively a torture camp where prisoners have no access to justice. This guy has no credibility problem at all, he opens his mouth and proves it. That this thing is our Attorney General shows how low we have sunk. The Rule of law is nothing more than the Rule of the Big Gun...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11711285/from/RSS/

Palestinian PM-designate Ismail Haniya will not be immune from assassination if Hamas renews attacks on Israel, the Israeli defence minister has said. Shaul Mofaz told Israeli Army Radio the policy of targeted killings had been successful and would continue. Mr Haniya has been nominated to form the next Palestinian government after Hamas' shock poll victory in January. Israel's own campaign for polls on 28 March has begun, with the Kadima party of acting PM Ehud Olmert tipped to win. Mr Mofaz's comments came a day after two Islamic Jihad militants and three other Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a car in Gaza City. "We will continue the targeted killings at this pace," Mr Mofaz said. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4781246.stm

One of the last surviving women to have served in World War I has died in Norfolk aged 107. Alice Baker, born in Costessey near Norwich in 1898, joined the Royal Flying Corps at the age of 18 and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftswoman. During the war Mrs Baker served as a "doper" in Dover, which involved daubing the canvas wings of biplanes with a lacquer to make them waterproof. She died in her sleep at her Ditchingham care home last Monday. Max Arthur, a writer who specialises in first-hand recollections of historical events said her job in the Royal Flying Corps - forerunner of the RAF - was one of the many women had to do during the war. "Women did so much during in WWI - it's almost a forgotten area, and an area that should not be forgotten. "We should be giving great reverence to this lady and giving her a tremendous funeral and send-off." ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/norfolk/4781342.stm

Tropical and sub-tropical countries suffer more illness during flu outbreaks than previously thought, a study suggests. Looking at hospital admissions between 1996 and 2000 in Hong Kong, the team found rates similar to those in the US. Influenza accounted for 10.9% of respiratory admissions in Hong Kong, compared to 8.6% in the US, the Public Library of Science Medicine study said. The team said better use of vaccines in an epidemic would help in such areas. The researchers from the University of Hong Kong said although most strains of flu were successfully fought off by the vast majority of people, it could cause serious illness in the elderly and vulnerable. However, it had been assumed that flu is only a minor problem for people in the warmer parts of the world. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4779850.stm

In what has become a bizarre sideshow to this city’s mayor’s race, one of the candidates has been sentenced to three days in jail for contempt of court.Kimberly Williamson Butler, a criminal court clerk who announced her candidacy on Friday, had defied a court order to relinquish her authority over the cleanup of a hurricane-flooded court evidence room after the state Supreme Court appointed an outside judge to the task.Butler dropped out of sight last week after being threatened with arrest, but Calvin Johnson, chief judge for state district criminal court in New Orleans, canceled the arrest warrant Friday after Butler agreed to appear in court....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11711431/from/RSS/